ALLIED Tutorial

[LiquidSky]

Having played on both sides in several games it seems to me that it is both easier to win as the Allies, yet they are harder to play.

This is going to be my first in a 147 part series: How to win as the Allies.

I am basing this on the 1943-1945 campaign game.

FIRST TURN

There is a lot to do on the first turn. I spend a few hours sorting everything out..mostly air. This way I set up for the future.

In England, build new airfields on all the towns in the Eastern and Southern parts of the country. Especially all hexes of London. You will have to make room for a construction engineer to appear so make sure you don't have three units in any of these hexes.
I also improve all existing airfields in this area to level 3.

Transfer all 4 engine bombers in Africa to England and attach to 8th or BC. Same goes for all the long range fighters.
Put those (and the ones in England) in bases as close to Germany as possible. That means Dover/Cantebury area.

Transfer all the air transports to the area around Tunis. They can fly supply from the Depot to Sicily or Italy if needed.

Transfer all 2 engine bombers to Africa. Their job will be to destroy the Luftwaffe when it appears in Italy.

I usually try and keep my airforce tidy in England. Put the same plane type at each base. There are a lot of fighter squadrons spread around England.

I transfer all the Torpedo Bombers close to Sicily. I take a lot of the planes out of RAF Coastal (England) and move them down to Africa. The airbases in Africa will be getting full...so prioritize on range. Torpedo bombers on the coast. 2 Engine bombers farther back. Air tranports around Tunis. Fighters on the islands.

When you take Sicily...a lot of these planes will be rebasing forwards.

I usually put every squadron on AUTO upgrade. A lot of the spitfire squadrons will convert to Hurricanes. When they do, I retrain them as bombers. You will end up with around 16 squadrons of them. They will be based in Italy and used against German Panzers and for Interdiction.

I usually put all the recon planes in one AD except for a couple which I leave in Africa. I recon by plane type. Shorter range fighters recon the Ruhr. Lightnings recon the 8th AF targets..and so on.

Bomber Command bombs the Ruhr at night. I put all the Lancasters and Halifax's in it along with all the night fighters. They hit manpower only (or so I tell them, they seem to hit everything)

8th Airforce Bombs the Ruhr during the day. I usually only hit the sub pens once sometime in August..maybe again in October. Instead they bomb the Ruhr during the day. They bomb Heavy Industry/Fuel on HIGH priority, and Resources/Vehicles/AFV on lower priorities. You are looking for victory points.

Tactical airforce I put all the fighter bombers. Malta I put fighters. Strategic I put the 2 engine bombers.

One of the Transport commands I put all the transports.


All multi-role units I move to a High command HQ. I like to use them on the map to fill out the lines and run around...but it is easier to move them to where you want by transferring them by changing their HQ.
Basically when an Army HQ enters Sicily (or Italy, or France) you can push them into that HQ, then pop them out on the map the next turn.

I combine the paratroopers in Africa, and move them to an airfield closer to Sicily. The 509th Para Regiment (US) I set for (157, 284). Set a new target for them: (153,285) Barcellona for the British and (154,286) for the Americans.

[LiquidSky]

I usually go with the first turn invasions. Sicily has to fall. And while it will be useful to own Sardinia/Corsica...and to be in Italy...I am not in a hurry for the inevitable.

You will need units for quick follow up invasions. A single regiment gains 20 invasion points a turn, so you can invade again in 3 turns anyways...which is also the length of time it takes the paratroopers to get ready.

After the initial invasion you will have 3 naval TF's available. Move one back to Tunis along with the French mountain regiment in Bizerte. They will be invading Barcellona (157, 284).


The purpose of the paradrop and invasion is to punish an aggressive German who thinks having Germans in Sicily is a good idea.

The paratroopers take the two hexes Barcellona and the one SE of it. The invasion gives them a port so they cannot be isolated. And the Germans should be unable to retake either hex right away allowing you to transport an extra division if required into the invasion port.


Of course if it is not needed, you can always switch targets...but more on that later in my next part...Invading Italy...or not?

[Devonport]

Looking forward to more of this - always interesting to see different strategies set out.

Particularly interested that you don't use manual upgrade of aircraft. I know some people think this is an unnecessary chore, but there are two big advantages for me. One is that I only upgrade when a squadron is resting (so you minimize the time squadrons are out of action, I'm not sure the AI does this) or low on aircraft (e.g. the Spitfire VB is soon in short supply). The other is that the British Squadrons can do with some longer range fighters and I take the opportunity to upgrade to Mosquito either to accompany day bombing in Europe or to do AS in Italy when airfields are far apart, again not sure the AI would do this for you.

[LiquidSky]

I use manual upgrade much later...not to upgrade aircraft, but to keep them from upgrading into something else. Like to keep my Mustangs and Lightnings in 8th Airforce...instead of them turning into something else when they take damage.

I also use AUTO loadouts mostly. Sometimes I may lock aircraft into different loadouts manually...like long range RECON with drop tanks...or with a particular camera loadout. (say all spitfire PR's with low camera, then use them only for tactical work).

There is a Morale hit for manually changing aircraft. None (that I have noticed) when you let it happen AUTO.

[Seminole]

I usually put all the recon planes in one AD except for a couple which I leave in Africa.

Interesting. I like to spread my recon air groups among air commands so I can create distinct ADs for practically every air group. I shoot for redundancy and overlap to get high recon values. I don't make air attacks (strategic or tactical) without recon.

The purpose of the paradrop and invasion is to punish an aggressive German who thinks having Germans in Sicily is a good idea.

A mainland Italy invasion triggering the Italian surrender (meaning wait until August) goes a long way in making Sicily untenable.
S2Tanker tried your gambit in our rematch (underway), but he went light on the initial invasion. I think he was trying to bait me, as well as wanting to make a quick move for Sardinia. I smelled a rat and pulled out the Germans immediately. We're a week away from October and he's about to finally clear Sicily. Sardinia is another matter...

[LiquidSky]

I treat Sicily like its a serious battle. Taking Messina as fast as possible. Two full corps with filled with combat engineers. Whatever units I have extra on reserve. The Paratroopers and Naval invasion is kind of an insurance to help me achieve that. If the Germans are aggressive then I send in the marines. If not (and they usually don't) then I don't have to....and I switch to Italy.

I never invade Sardinia...I let the Italians take it for me. And besides, Sardinia is useless. It is Corsica that is useful for its airbases. And even then, I don't need them until I invade southern France in Summer '44.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Italy is a whole new discussion from Sicily.

[LiquidSky]

Italy

I once said that fighting in Italy is a waste of Allied resources. That the allies should invade France (or Belgium/Netherlands) as fast as possible.

I was wrong.

Fighting in Italy serves several purposes...and is not the attrition slugfest you might think it to be.

The allies have all the advantages....although those advantages can be thrown away with foolish invasions.

But you have to understand the purpose to fighting in Italy. The most important reason is to draw down the Luftwaffe and destroy it. As soon as it makes any kind of appearance, you bomb the Italian airbases. The Luftwaffe doesn't have a lot of choices about where it will go. Probably around Foggia...maybe around Rome as well..or instead. Doesn't matter. You have a lot of 2 engine bombers. They bomb the airfields. Fighters from Sicily fly Superiority missions as far up as they can go.

The Luftwaffe will be bled. And the Germans will not want it to be bled....they will withdraw..either to northern Italy..or the Munich/Vienna area.

The second reason is to attrit armour/panzer grenadier divisions. They are pretty much all he has in the mid summer, but can and will be replaced by infantry. Those hurricane squadrons should be coming on line after retraining to bomber roles. They will interdict, and bomb units. There was a recent patch that makes rockets a lot less effective, but they will still kill a lot of guns and men.

Thirdly...you want to take cities. When you get to Rome...or even farther... you will get a nice chunk of city vps. Every turn. I usually manage to get to Rome by late '43.

Lastly....pressure in Italy will be at least matched by German units. If they try and spread out regiments..because the CV looks good for a regiment in rough/mtn hexes..they will be in for a shock. A regiment will not stand against a corp. Don't let the CV fool you. It will drop quite a bit. Mtn units are very poor at anti tank. If they are unsupported, they too will be pushed out of the mountains.

As the allies I usually only commit no more then 20 divisions at tops...and whatever brigades I want. (since they can be put back into an HQ and sent off to Southern France..) Use only the divisions that show up in Africa.....excess units will be used to invade southern france.

So remember to always keep this in mind. Luftwaffe destruction first. Bomb Pz/PzG divs second. Take ground third.

Details to follow after I sleep.

[soeren01]

It is interesting, how different your approach is from mine.
I don't use autoupdate, I manage my airforces completly myself, Same goes with Bomber loadouts. But most RAF Coastal Command asstes go to the MED. Don't you have problems with overloading your african airfields ?
My placement of units is also quite different.

[Seminole]

I never invade Sardinia...I let the Italians take it for me.

As the Axis I don't let the Italians take Sardinia. [8D]

[Harrybanana]

ORIGINAL: LiquidSky

There was a recent patch that makes rockets a lot less effective, but they will still kill a lot of guns and men.

Was this in the most recent upgrade to 1.01.01? If so it would explain why the 100+ Rocket armed P47D-25s I "unit" attacked a panzer with last turn in my game against QBall failed to destroy a single tank (OK maybe they got 1 I can't remember for sure). It was clear weather, clear terrain and the unit was not fortified. Previously I was destroying 50 to 100 tanks with such attacks. The rocket equipped aircraft I used for interdiction also got terrible numbers, even on the clear terrain hexes. In my opinion the "rockets" were previously over rated and too powerful, but now it seems to be the opposite problem. In any event, should we now switch to bombs rather than rockets?

[freeboy]

I am trying to go from playing around with game to seriously playing game, which means learningthe details so this is great learner for me ...
Im trying to duplicate this, Do I simply transfer the four engine US bombers to 8th AF ?

[LiquidSky]

Nope..you have to Air Transfer them to England. I usually base them all around Norwich. 3 squadrons per (level 3) airbase. Then change their HQ to 8th AF. or BC if British.

I plan an installment on Strat bombing...maybe I will do that next. It will have pictures! [:D]

Basically I organize missions in my head over the basic types of aircraft.

American 4 engine bombers. Fly Bomb City missions daytime with escorts.
British 4 engine bombers. Fly Bomb City missions nighttime (mostly) with night fighter escorts.

Fighter Bombers trained as bombers. Fly Ground Attack missions.
2 engine Level Bombers....fly miscellaneous missions. Attack Airfield, Railyards...Ground Support.
British Spitfires: Local air superiority over invasion sites.
British Other. Kittyhawks etc. Local air superiority with range.
American short range fighters. (P40's, P47s) Local air superiority.
American P39's train as bombers.

[jacktimes2]

Just looking ahead, I can see myself getting a lot of mileage out of a PDF of your tutorial, once you feel you've completed it. Thanks in advance for this stuff!

[Devonport]

ORIGINAL: LiquidSky




There is a Morale hit for manually changing aircraft. None (that I have noticed) when you let it happen AUTO.

Seems a strange design choice to hit morale when you get given shiny new improved aircraft.

[Helpless]

There is no morale hit when swapping aircraft. There is pilot experience hit only if you are swapping to different type (ex. FB -> NF) and/or when swapping to different engine num (ex. 2E->4E).

[jacktimes2]

Those two situations make perfect sense. Thanks for the clarification!

[soeren01]

ORIGINAL: Harrybanana

ORIGINAL: LiquidSky

There was a recent patch that makes rockets a lot less effective, but they will still kill a lot of guns and men.

Was this in the most recent upgrade to 1.01.01? If so it would explain why the 100+ Rocket armed P47D-25s I "unit" attacked a panzer with last turn in my game against QBall failed to destroy a single tank (OK maybe they got 1 I can't remember for sure). It was clear weather, clear terrain and the unit was not fortified. Previously I was destroying 50 to 100 tanks with such attacks. The rocket equipped aircraft I used for interdiction also got terrible numbers, even on the clear terrain hexes. In my opinion the "rockets" were previously over rated and too powerful, but now it seems to be the opposite problem. In any event, should we now switch to bombs rather than rockets?

According to the change log, only ait to air rockets have been changed.

[Helpless]

According to the change log, only ait to air rockets have been changed.

Air to ground rocket attacks were fixed.

[Helpless]

The rocket equipped aircraft I used for interdiction also got terrible numbers, even on the clear terrain hexes. In my opinion the "rockets" were previously over rated and too powerful, but now it seems to be the opposite problem.

Historically rocket attacks were very ineffective so it is now. Interdiction effect should still be the same as it was. Also rockets do quite a bit of disruption.

[palioboy2]

Is there more of this hidden away somewhere? I was expecting more then a page! haha